Why Arthroscopic Surgery Might Be the Answer to Your Joint Issue
Arthroscopic surgery is a versatile procedure that can diagnose and treat a wide range of joint issues. Find out if this treatment might be right for you here.
A Closer Look at How We Repair a Damaged ACL
ACL tears — the very thought sends shivers down an athlete’s spine, and for good reason. An unstable knee means virtually no movement for weeks, if not months. That is, until now.
Athletes of all kinds in The Woodlands, Texas, area have trusted our team with one of their most valuable assets — their knees — counting on us to help them avoid injury and address it when the worst happens.
The orthopedic surgeons at The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre in The Woodlands, Texas, specialize in getting you off the sidelines as quickly as possible with our advanced ACL repair methods.
Here’s everything you should know about how we repair an ACL tear.
Behind the scenes of your ACL repair
Your ACL repair journey begins with an extensive evaluation. We order comprehensive imaging tests to evaluate the extent of the damage, and we even bring in your coaches, trainers, and family members to give us a complete understanding of your knee injury.
ACL tears aren’t the kind of injury you can play through or recover from with ice and rest — your knee likely needs surgical intervention to get you back to playing shape. Our methods to repair your ACL are as minimally invasive as possible, but we still administer general anesthesia before we begin your procedure.
The main goal of ACL repair is to surgically remove the damaged ligament and replace it with a new tendon (or graft), which comes from a donor or another part of your knee.
Your ACL repair is an arthroscopic procedure, which means we use a small camera and tools to access and work on your knee. The arthroscope gives us a clear view of your damaged ligament and allows us to work quickly without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Bonus: We use tools so small we don’t need to create a large incision. On the other hand, open knee surgery is more invasive and can keep you stuck on the sidelines for much longer.
The graft encourages a new ligament to grow, restoring your knee and leaving only a small scar behind.
Getting back in the game
You can expect to be on crutches or in a splint or brace for a few weeks while your knee recovers. We walk you through basic recovery procedures and discuss your fastest path back to the lineup. If you want to get into playing shape as fast as possible, keep the following in mind.
Take it easy
It’s hard to tell hardcore athletes to take a timeout, but your knee needs as much rest as possible as it heals. So kick your feet up and do what you can to stay in shape.
Don’t neglect physical therapy
It may be a drag to keep your physical therapy appointments (and, depending on how severe your tear was, you may need quite a bit of physical therapy), but it's the best thing you can do to recover quickly.
Your physical therapist knows exactly what you need to do to strengthen your knee and encourage healing. Your stretches and exercises are tailored to your sport and meant to make your recovery as easy as possible.
Be realistic
ACL tears may be common, but that doesn’t mean they aren't serious. If you’ve torn your ACL, you must know you won’t heal overnight. We encourage you to set realistic expectations for your recovery. When you return to the game, listen to your body and stop if you notice pain.
Don’t stop training
Speaking of doing what you can, just because your knee is in rehab doesn’t mean the rest of your body is. There’s no reason you can’t (carefully) strengthen the muscles around your knee — you may even help yourself prevent a future injury.
Looking for more information about our ACL repair methods? We’d love to talk with you. Call The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre at 281-374-2273 or book an appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
What Issues Can Orthotics Address?
Issues with your feet or ankles can lead to pain, decreased mobility, and even complications in other parts of your body. Find out how orthotics can address problems with your lower extremities here.
Don't Start Practice Without Doing These Things First
If you’re part of a sports team, you will be practicing quite a bit. If you want your practice to be the best it can be, don’t start it each day without doing these things first.
Tips for Eating With Your Bones in Mind
If you ever wondered if the old saying “you are what you eat” was true, just look at your bones. Everything you eat — and don’t eat — affects them. Here’s how to nourish your skeleton and why it’s important.
You Can Still Train When You Hurt Your Wrist. Here's How
You use your wrists often as an athlete, so it’s natural to worry about an injury interfering with your training routine. The good news is that you can still train with a wrist injury if you pay attention to a few simple tips.
Pain Relief for Your Tendonitis
Tendonitis can go by many names, but the result is always the pain you feel from the inflammation in your tendons near the bone. Fortunately, this condition is manageable with treatment. Read on to find out how you can get relief.